Evaluation of lilium (Lilium spp.) germplasm for growth, flowering and bulb production under midhill conditions of Himachal Pradesh

The experiment was conducted evaluate lilium (Lilium spp.) germplasm at the experimental farm of Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Nauni, during 2008–09 under shade net conditions planted in a randomised block design. Lilium (Lilium spp.) is one of the important geophytes, having attractive flowers, appealing colours and durable spikes. Of the 14 cultivars of lilium, nine belonging to Asiatic group and five to LA Hybrid group, were evaluated under All India Coordinated Floriculture Improvement Project to work out their feasibility for commercial cultivation in the midhill areas in Himachal Pradesh. Among Asiatic cultivars, maximum (73.27 cm) plant height was noticed in cv. ‘Brunello ’. Maximum number (3.93) of flowering buds/plant were observed in cv. ‘Toscana ’. Longest bud length (8.45 cm) and largest flower size (17.81 cm) were found in cv. ‘Prato ’. Earliest flowering was noticed in cv. ‘Apeldoorn ’(56.80 days). Among LA hybrids, plant height (108.27 cm) and number of flowering buds (4.33) were maximum in cv. ‘ Lateya ’. Longest bud length (9.05 cm) and largest flower size (17.96 cm) were noticed in cv. ‘Litouwen ’. Earliest flowering (69.80 days) was observed in cv. ‘Brindsii ’. Under Asiatic lilium cultivars, maximum bulb size (3.48 cm) and bulb weight (24.25 g) were found in ‘Prato ’. Maximum bulblet size (2.14 cm) and weight (5.19 g) were found in cv. ‘Grand Cru ’. Under LA Hybrid lilium, maximum bulb size (4.20 cm) and bulb weight (29.08 g) were found in ‘Litouwen ’. Maximum bulblet size (2.53 cm) and weight (8.02 g) were found in cv. ‘Litouwen ’.